ecoculture, geophilosophy, mediapolitics

Comparative ‘practicology’: Philosophy as a way of life

This course (an Honors College course I’m happy to be to teaching this year) is already in progress, but I’d be curious to hear any comments on it. What would you include in a comparative overview of spiritual practices? What’s missing?

Self-Cultivation and Spiritual Practice: Comparative Perspectives

This course introduces students to the comparative study of religious, spiritual, and psycho-physical practices — exercises by which individuals and groups deepen, develop, challenge, and transform their perceptions and capacities for action in harmony with religious, moral-ethical, or philosophical ideals. The course covers a range that spans from ancient Greek and Roman philosophers (such as Stoics, Epicurians, and Neoplatonists), yogis and monks of South and East Asia, Christian and Muslim ascetics and Renaissance mages, to practitioners of modern forms of westernized yoga, martial arts, ritual magic, and other forms of physical and psycho-spiritual practice. Readings of ancient texts and contemporary philosophical and sociological writings are complemented by practical exercises, writing and presentation assignments, and a practice project.

Overview

Philosophers in the ancient world were less interested in knowledge for its own sake than in the “art of living.” From ancient Greece and Rome to China and India, the core of philosophical practice often consisted of spiritual exercises (askesis, ἄσκησις, Gk.) aimed at self-cultivation (xiushen, 修真, Ch.). This interest has been revived in today’s growing fascination with spiritual practices undertaken both within and well outside the context of traditional religion.

This course introduces students to the comparative study of religious, spiritual, and psycho-physical practices — exercises by which individuals and groups deepen, develop, challenge, and transform their perceptions and capacities for action in harmony with religious, moral-ethical, or philosophical ideals. This involves a two-part definition of “spiritual practice,” with each of these two components being integral to the practices examined: (1) a physical and/or psychological activity that is performed regularly, with the aim of improvement or attainment toward a goal, and (2) an ideal that contains some moral or ethical understanding of “the good.” Such practices may be performed by individuals or by groups, and they can be pursued in tightly regulated or highly unregulated settings. For instance, they may function in traditionally religious contexts circumscribed by concepts of sanctity or strict codes of duty and prohibition; or they may be completely free of such constraints, as in today’s highly individualized “spiritual marketplace.”

The course covers a spectrum of such practices as well as the philosophies that inform them, drawn from a broad historical range, from ancient Greece and Rome (including Stoics, Epicurians, Skeptics, and Neoplatonists), ancient and medieval South and East Asia, medieval Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, to the ‘magical’ philosophy of Renaissance Europe, to practitioners of modern forms of westernized yoga, martial arts, meditation, neo-shamanism, ‘nature connection,’ environmental or other forms of activism, extreme sports, and computer apps for mental and emotional strength training and longevity.

Readings of original texts (in translation) and contemporary writings by philosophers such as Hadot, Foucault, and Sloterdijk will be complemented by practical exercises and writing and presentation assignments. We will discuss debates over the place of such practices in varying cultural contexts; their relations to religion, conformity and deviance, social order and dissent, economic class, race, and gender; their changing place in today’s pluralistic and globalized world; and diverse perspectives including neuroscience and “transpersonal” studies, the psychology of happiness and well-being, and the spiritual and “postsecular” turns in religious studies and sociology.

7. Nature, Body, & Life Spiritualities in a Globalizing World Nature spiritualities, from nature mystics, Boy Scouts, and ‘wannabe’ Indians to Neo-Pagans, eco-activists, and extreme sports enthusiasts. Body spiritualities, from 19th century ‘physical culture’ and bodybuilding to modern postural yoga(s), Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and other ‘westernized,’ ‘easternized,’ and ‘traveling’ practices. Mind spiritualities, from New Thought to ‘positive thinking’ to ‘prosperity consciousness’ and the science of happiness.

8. ‘Spiritual But Not Religious’? The Future of Spirituality Is there an evolving global spirituality? Is spirituality what happens to religion in neoliberal capitalism? Is spirituality individual or collective (or which should it be)? Is spirituality conducive to health? Should spirituality be ‘decolonized’? Assessing Positive Psychology, the Mindfulness movement, and the science, neuroscience, and ‘appification’ of spirituality.

Basic bibliography

Bregman, L., The Ecology of Spirituality: Meanings, Virtues, and Practices in a Post-Religious Age. Baylor University Press, 2014.

This Article Reminds me of the day when i started my Spiritual Journey with With Sahaj Marg – Learn to Meditate .
I Strongly Agree, That Being Spiritual is far Important and Better than Being Religious. If anyone who is looking to begin his or Spiritual Journey . Do Give a Try to Sahaj Marg and Feel the Difference in Yourself . They teaches you the concepts of Meditation, Cleaning, Relaxation and much more.

I remember years ago, instructing a team how to perform lucid dreaming (dreams while being mindful of dreaming) among those drills was a’reality test.” In order for this to function, you need to actually mean it you may touch something or attempt to jump (tip – if you jump up and remain up in the atmosphere – you are likely dreaming!) . Among those folks in the group wanted to do something to remind herself to perform the reality test. He even took a”Chiquita” decal off a banana and place it on his shoe, so each time he looked down, he would remember to perform a simple test.
It has been a very long trip for me to come to basically the exact same place that you’re trying to explain. In fact, I understood that in God’s economy only showing up was great.

The guide you provided is a must read i can say, you covered all the topic so beautifully and comprehensively that I must say this is the best article I’ve read so far on the internet about the Philosophy of life.